Surgical instrument



Sept. 21 192s. A 1,600,225

. v s. HALPERN SURGICAL INSTRUMENT Filed April 4, 192's INVENTOR:

J ue

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 21, 1926.

UNITED-STATES SAMUEL HALPERN, OF NEW YORK, N; Y.

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed April 4, 1925. Serial No. 20,595.

My improvements relate to surgical scissors and especially to those designed primarily for use in making abdominal and other incisions for various purposes known to the profession, the object being to facilitate such operations and render them less dangerous than heretofore as and for the reasons hereinafter fully eXplained,and the invention consisting essentially in the specific construction, combination and arrangement of component parts of the cutting implement described and claimed, whereby these and other advantageous results are attained in a simple but effective manner,a distinctive feature being the provision of a detachable tissue-spreading shield for the lower shearing blade of the instrument as set forth.

In the accompanying drawing I illustrate a practical embodiment of the essential features of my invention in a surgical implement of the character designated, although I do not limit myself to the identical form and construction of parts and appurtenances herein shown byway of exemplification, since changes in configuration and minor details and equivalent mechanical expedients may be resorted to with like results, and without departing from the spirit and intent of my invention in this respect.

WVith this understanding Fig. 1, represents an elevation of the upper side of surgical scissors provided with my tissue-spreading shield;

Fig. 2, is a side elevation of the scissors, and a central longitudinal sectionof the shield taken upon plane of line 22, Fig. 1;

Fig. 8, is a perspective view of a preferred configuration of my tissue-spreading shield.

The scissors A, are of the ordinary surgical type, consisting of a pair of handled blades a, a, pivotally connected at a the front end of the lower blade a, being formed with the usual blunt flat circular nose a shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1, of the drawings,-the function and use of the scissors being essentially the same as heretofore, and the distinctive novelty in the present case being the incorporation therewith of my tissue-spreading shield S, either permanent'-' ly and integrally, or as an attachment thereto.

In other words, my tissue-spreading shield S, may be rigidly attached to the said lower blade a, of the scissors A, or detachably connected therewith, in which latter case it is formed at its forward extremity with a recess or pocket 8, adapted to fit snugly over the nose a of the said lower blade a, and at its rear extremity with flanges s, s, which straddle both blades of the scissors adjacent to their fulcrum a as shown more particularly in Fig. 1, of the drawings.

In either case my tissue-spreading shield S, is of concavo-convex configuration in cross section, with side walls divergent from the contracted semi-circular tip 8, to the relatively broad rear extremity of the spoon shaped shield thus constituted, substantially as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, of the drawings.

My wedge shaped shield S, obviates dan ger of injury to the intestines or other abdominal or pelvic organs or pathological structures located in the line of incision, by spreading them aside and protecting them.

Thus,if there be intestine or other tissue adherent to the peritoneum in the line of proposed incision the blunt nose or fe-eler s, will forthwith make the operating surgeon aware of this impediment. Furthermore, my shield obviates the necessity for the introduction of the fingers of the operator into the abdominal cavity, at least in the preliminary stages of an operation, thereby reducing to a minimum degree this source of possible infection, since it renders visual the parts and tissues involved, and sustains the same under proper and desirable tension, so as to facilitate clean, accurate, and desired location of incision.

Obviously surgical scissors thus equipped may be used in operation upon parts of the body other than abdominal with similar advantageous results, as forinstance, in opening the uterus in Caesarean sections, etc.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is i As an improved article of manufacture, a surgical instrument comprising a pair of both of said blades adjacent their fulcrum, said shield being of concavo-convex configuration in cross section divergent from said pocket to the broad end of the shield,

said blunt nose serving as a feeler in use.

i SAMUEL HALPERN. 

